March 31st, 7.30 pm @ Barefoot Cafe
V Day in Sinhala will be held in Kandy in August
V Day in Tamil will be held in Jaffna in November

1.    Why does the Grassrooted Trust produce V Day?
The Grassrooted Trust works with women and girls from varied backgrounds, and one of the most common factors that bind them is the violence they face in relationships. This includes physical violence, of course, but also very often emotional abuse, from just the threat of physical violence to blackmail, and everything in between. V Day, since we started writing our own scripts in 2012, has always been about real Sri Lankan stories, and this year we asked people to write in with their experiences, and we also conducted interviews with survivors of violence to put together this year’s V Day: Our Stories performance.

2.    The reason behind the Tamil and Sinhala scripts for a Colombo audience at Barefoot?
Violence is sadly universal and ubiquitous. The Tamil story could be my story as a Burgher or a Muslim, and as we know it is a misnomer that education, class or even economic comforts in anyway reduce the intensity of the violence we experience. Sometimes it is in the best of homes that the worst happens.

3.    What is the reason and thinking behind theatre like this?
To provoke. To begin a discussion. To help people articulate how they feel. To raise awareness on not just that violence happens, but this year, in partnership with Women In Need, to help raise awareness on where you could go, whom you could speak or talk to, basically to let people know that they don’t have to go through this alone. There are those who can and will help. That’s why this year we wanted to take this on the road, finally, and use theatre to let people know that it is being talked about and discussed in the open. Grassrooted is also planning on organising competitions in schools around these issues so that young men and women could engage early with what sadly appears to be a resigned acceptance that men hit and hurt women in Sri Lanka. It’s normal. We need to build momentum so that theatre can show people, no, this is not normal, and does not need to be the way things are for us.

4.    Do you think this kind of theatre will really make a change in how people think about domestic violence or any sort of violence?
It is an opportunity to share experiences and raise awareness, but if things are going to really change, we have to engage with young people. Not just at University or even post O Level, we need to get into schools and discuss why and how gender based violence happens. We need to help young men and women find ways through the objectification and abuse that so many of us find normal, and acceptable. We need yahapalanaya in the home. Recognition that a woman or man is in no way less or more than the other. If theatre can help this process, and shine a light on this often taboo, better-not-mention-it-in-public issue, then fantastic.

5.    Where can people get help if they need it?
In addition to existing government services, we recommend that you call the women in need hotline 011 471 8585, and someone trained and experienced will be there to answer and talk you through your issues and offer you the advice that you need to deal with your situation.

6.    How can we help, as a society, as citizens, as people who live and work here?
Talk about it. Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to admit or point out that violence happens. There is no excuse. We can’t rationalise it based on drugs or alcohol or convention, causing physical or emotional harm to one another is unacceptable.  So let’s confront this and not be afraid to try and find solutions. Also, report it. If it happens next door, let the police know. There are domestic violence acts that can be enforced. People can be spared the silent suffering they go through with your support.

7.    What’s it like putting a production like this together?
Exciting. Challenging. For Grassrooted, it’s about holding up a mirror and saying, this is who we are. Do we like it? And if we don’t, what are we going to do so that this sorry reflection can one day, change?